Racecards
13:50 Leopardstown (IRE)
Irish Daily Star Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft (Yielding in places)
- Surface: Turf
- €17,500 added
- Winner: €10,780
- 2nd: €3,343
- 3rd: €1,592
- 4th: €717
- Form 744U-30
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer E P Harty
- Jockey N D Fehily
soon tracked leaders and a little keen, 5th early, soon 4th, on terms 3 out, led briefly approaching last, soon headed and no extra
- Form U/1F349
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey S A Shortall
raced in 7th early, soon chased leaders in 6th, progress to challenge from before last and soon on terms and slight mistake, stayed on well run-in to lead near line and rider lost whip
- Form 332-155
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D Robinson
soon led, joined 3 out, headed and squeezed for room approaching last, soon no extra
- Form 165916
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer A McGuinness
- Jockey Mr L J McGuinness
chased leaders early, soon raced in 8th, effort approaching straight, soon no impression
- Form 14
- Age 4
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
led early, prominent, challenged and led again before last, soon joined and slight mistake, kept on well run-in, headed near line
- Form 445131
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 116
soon towards rear, headway to chase leaders but no impression when slight mistake last, one pace
- Form F-444
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer M F Morris
- Jockey B J Geraghty
chased leaders, 6th early, soon 7th, effort approaching straight, soon no extra
- Form 425-444
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer J P Dempsey
- Jockey L P Dempsey
soon prominent, effort from before straight, soon no extra and one pace
- Form 327-226
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey E O'Connell
held up, 11th early, effort from before straight, soon no impression
- Form P1-4435
- Age 5
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer C O'Dwyer
- Jockey Ricky Doyle
tracked leaders, 4th early, soon 5th, effort and closed up from before straight, no extra and one pace from before last
- Form 470-052
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey Mark Walsh
soon towards rear, closed up to chase leaders when not much room and switched right approaching last, kept on without threatening
- Form 053770
- Age 4
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer C O'Dwyer
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
held up, 9th early, under pressure from 3 out and dropped to rear, soon no extra
- Form 736/030-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey D F O'Regan
soon towards rear, progress on inner to track leaders into straight and soon not much room, switched right run-in, kept on without matching front pair
- Form 000-639
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer A J Martin
- Jockey Donagh Meyler
held up, 10th early, closed up travelling smoothly on outer into straight, chased leaders and kept on same pace from before last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Tony Martin has three entries and though the pair at the bottom of the handicap are respected it's ARTFUL ARTIST (NAP) who could prove best of the trio despite never having won over hurdles. A three-times winner on the Flat, he's been running well without much luck and holds Low Sun, who was receiving 5lb when beating him a head at Bellewstown in August, on much better terms. Like An Open Book is an obvious danger after an impressive victory at Thurles despite a 9lb rise while Wigs On The Green has been taking on very strong company in maidens and looks reasonably treated for his handicap debut. The lightly-raced Ale Ambrosio looked a progressive type when runner-up on heavy ground at Fairyhouse and can improve enough to get competitive.
Formwatch
Jack Dillinger (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 2nd 3 out, soon ridden and weakened quickly, 12th of 13, dist behind Oscar Knight (10-6) at Naas 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Hardback (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, disputed lead briefly at 5th, headed next, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 9th of 14, 21 1/2l behind Out Of The Loop (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp sft in Dec.
Arvico Bleu (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Led, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed, 2nd at last, no extra run-in, 5th of 12, 9 1/4l behind Midnight Stroll (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f sft in Dec.
All's Quiet (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Held up in rear and a little keen, slight mistake 3 out, 6th before straight, soon one pace, 6th of 8, 16 1/4l behind Shanning (11-1) at Galway 2m 1f sft in Oct.
Low Sun 9-4jfav (10-11) Held up in rear, ridden and no impression entering straight, no extra before last, last of 4, 33l behind Us And Them (11-0) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Dec.
Like An Open Book (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Held up towards rear, progress after 3 out, closer in 5th entering straight, challenged and mistake 2 out, led travelled well before last, ridden and kept on strongly run-in, won at Thurles 2m hcp Yielding in Nov beating Turasoir (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 18 ran.
Wigs On The Green (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Soon tracked leaders, 5th approaching 4th, slight mistake 6th, kept on same pace from after 2 out, 4th of 14, 6 1/2l behind Mind's Eye (11-4) at Fairyhouse 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Stowaway Forever (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 4th halfway, pushed along approaching straight and no impression from 2 out, no extra when not fluent last, 4th of 12, 19 3/4l behind Chris's Dream (11-12) at Limerick 2m 3f mdn sft in Dec.
Artful Artist (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra before last where slight mistake, kept on one pace, 6th of 13, 9 1/4l behind Top Othe Ra (10-6) at Down Royal 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Celebrity Status (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division early, disputed moderate 6th approaching straight, no impression when edged slightly left after 2 out, one pace, 5th of 15, 19 1/4l behind Trainwreck (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 1f mdn sft in Nov.
Ale Ambrosio (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, slight mistake 6th, headway on outer entering straight, ridden in 7th 2 out, went 3rd at last, kept on to go 2nd inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Golden Jewel (10-8) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hvy in Dec.
Brontide (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Rear of mid-division, never a factor, pushed along and no extra after 2 out, 16th of 20, 29 1/4l behind Lex Talionis (10-5) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Sweet Company (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 7th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Whiskey Sour (9-7) at Galway 1m 4f hcp sft in Aug.
Creeping Ivy (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Towards rear, moderate 9th halfway, ridden in moderate 6th entering straight, moderate 5th 1f out, kept on without threatening final furlong, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Commander Won (9-12) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Dec.